Adjustable capacity flasks

ABSTRACT

A flask that is capable of having its capacity adjusted by a user. A flask includes a cover element and a container. The cover element has an opening through which liquid is passable and a mating edge. The container has a mating edge for engaging with the mating edge of the cover element to form a seal. A fastener such as a pair of bolts is provided and configured to secure the cover element and the container together with the mating edges engaged, thereby defining a reservoir therein. The container may include a base element with a mating edge and one or more expansion elements each having a top mating edge for engaging with the mating edge of the cover element and a bottom mating edge for engaging with the mating edge of the base element. Accordingly, a user may add and remove expansion elements to the flask to adjust the capacity thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a flask for holding liquids and, more particularly, to a flask that is expandable so that the capacity of the flask may be adjusted (i.e., either increased or decreased) by a user.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Flasks are convenient accessories for carrying beverages and spirits on a person. Generally speaking, there are two types of flasks: a hand-carried flask and a breast-pocket flask type. Hand-carried flasks are more commonly known by the registered trademark of the most successful brand thereof, Thermos®, and include an evacuated cylinder disposed within a protective housing with a handle. The capacity of such flasks typically range from a pint to a quart and are designed to carry hot beverages such as coffee or soup.

[0005] Breast-pocket flasks were traditionally designed to be carried not in-hand typically but in the breast pocket of a blazer or sport coat. This tradition has carried through to today with the flasks often being arcuate to complement the shape of the human anatomy adjacent to the area where the breast pocket of a coat is located when worn. These types of flasks are typically not designed to carry hot beverages but, rather, a quantity of spirits such as brandy or bourbon. Typical sizes are fixed and range from one-half pint to one pint in size.

[0006] One of the drawbacks of conventional flasks is that, for flexibility, a user needs to purchase several depending upon need. If the user is to carry a quantity of spirits for individual use, then a smaller flask may be used. However, if the user is to carry a quantity of spirits for a group of people, then a larger flask may be used.

[0007] In view of the foregoing, there remains a need in the art for flasks that may have capacity adjusted according to need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides flasks that are capable of having their capacity adjusted—either increased or decreased—by a user. According to a preferred embodiment, a flask includes a cover element and a container. The cover element has an opening through which liquid is passable and a mating edge. The container has a mating edge for engaging with the mating edge of the cover element to form a seal. A fastener is provided and configured to secure the cover element and the container together with the mating edges engaged, thereby defining a reservoir therein. The fastener may include, for example, one or more bolts.

[0009] The container may include a base element with a mating edge and one or more expansion elements each having a top mating edge for engaging with the mating edge of the cover element and a bottom mating edge for engaging with the mating edge of the base element. Accordingly, a user may add and remove expansion elements to the flask to adjust the capacity thereof. For example, for a larger capacity, three of the expansion elements may be positioned between the cover element and the base element; for a smaller capacity, only one (or none) of the expansion elements may be provided.

[0010] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an adjustable-capacity flask configured in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0012]FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are side, bottom, and top views, respectively, of a preferred embodiment of a cover element of an adjustable-capacity flask of the invention;

[0013]FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are side, bottom, and top views, respectively, of a preferred embodiment of a base element of an adjustable-capacity flask of the invention;

[0014]FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are side, bottom, and top views, respectively, of a preferred embodiment of an expansion element of an adjustable-capacity flask of the invention;

[0015]FIG. 5 is a side view of an adjustable-capacity flask of the invention including two expansion elements;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a side view of an adjustable-capacity flask of the invention including three expansion elements;

[0017]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view an adjustable-capacity flask of the invention taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6, particularly illustrating engaging mating edges between elements of the flask in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

[0018]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an adjustable-capacity flask of the invention, particularly illustrating engaging mating edges between elements in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

[0019]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an adjustable-capacity flask of the invention, particularly illustrating engaging mating edges between elements in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Referring more particularly to the drawings, an expandable-capacity flask 100 configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. Exemplary flask 100 generally includes a cover element 102 and a container 104. With additional reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, exemplary cover element 102 may have an opening 106 through which liquid is passable and a mating edge 108. A collar 110 may be disposed about the opening 106 and configured to be fitted with a cap (not shown).

[0021] The container 104 includes a reservoir 112 configured to holding liquid and a mating edge 114 configured to mate or engage with the mating edge 108 of the cover element 102, thereby form a seal therebetween. A fastener 116 is configured to secure the cover element 102 and the container 104 together with the mating edges 108, 114 engaged.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the container 104 may include a base element 118 and an expansion element 120. With additional reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, exemplary base element 118 has a mating edge 122, and with additional reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C, exemplary expansion element 120 has a top mating edge 124 and a bottom mating edge 126. The top mating edge 124 of the expansion element 120 is configured to engage with the mating edge 108 of the cover element 102, and the bottom mating edge 126 of the expansion element 120 is configured to engage with the mating edge 122 of the base element 118. Accordingly, when assembled and secured together with the fastener 116, the combination of sections 102, 118, 120 are sealed at the abutting mating edges and form the flask 100 in which liquid may be stored.

[0023] With continued reference to FIGS. 1-4, each of the elements 102, 118, and 120 may have a perimetrical wall, that is, the cover element 102 may have a wall 128, the base element 118 may have a wall 130, and the expansion element 120 may have a wall 132. In addition, the cover element 102 may have a top section 134 through which the opening 106 is formed, and the base element 118 may have a bottom section 136. Accordingly, when assembled and secured, the reservoir 112 is defined by the perimetrical walls 128, 130, 132 and the top and bottom sections 134, 136.

[0024] In accordance with the present invention, exemplary expandable flask 100 includes a plurality of the expansion elements 120 a, 120 b, . . . , 120 n as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Accordingly, the flask 100 of the invention is configured to enable a user to add one or more expansion elements 120 to the container 104 to increase the capacity of the flask, and to remove one or more expansion elements 120 from the container 104 to decrease the capacity of the flask.

[0025] Each of the expansion elements 120 has a top and a bottom mating edge 124, 126 as described above. According to a preferred embodiment, the top mating edge 124 of at least one but preferably each of the expansion elements 120 is configured to engage with not only the mating edge 108 of the cover element 102 but also the bottom mating edge 126 of at least one but preferably each of the expansion elements 120. For example, referencing FIG. 5, the top mating edge 124 of expansion element 120 a engages with the mating edge 108 of the cover element 102, and the top mating edge 124 of expansion element 120 b is configured to engage with the bottom mating edge 126 of expansion element 120 a.

[0026] In addition, the bottom mating edge 126 of at least one but preferably each of the expansion elements 120 is configured to engage with not only the mating edge 122 of the base element 118 but also the top mating edge 124 of at least one but preferably each of the expansion elements 120. The bottom mating edge 126 of expansion element 120 b is configured to engage with the mating edge 122 of the base element 118, and the bottom mating edge 126 of expansion element 120 a is configured to engage with the top mating edge 124 of expansion element 120 b. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, each of the expansion elements 120 are configured identically with each other so as to be completely interchangeable with between the cover element 102 and the base element 118.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the mating edge 108 of the cover element 102 is formed on a bottom 134 of perimetrical wall 128. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3, the mating edge 122 of the base element 118 is formed on a top 136 of perimetrical wall 130. In addition, the top mating edge 124 of each expansion element 120 is formed on a top 138 of perimetrical wall 132, and the bottom mating edge 126 of each expansion element 120 is formed on a bottom 140 of perimetrical wall 132.

[0028] With additional reference to FIG. 7, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, each mating edge may include a groove 142 configured to receive a seal member 144 such as a rubber seal, a gasket, or an O ring. Accordingly, when the fastener 116 is securing the cover element 102 and the base element 118 together with any number of expansion element 120 therebetween, each mating edge is engaging with a corresponding mating edge to form a seal between abutting seal members 144. More specifically, under force by the fastener 116, each seal member 144 is compressed between an adjacent seal member 144 and a corresponding grooves 142 to form a compression seal.

[0029] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, each mating edge may include a groove 142 configured to receive a seal member 144. However, rather than each groove 142 receiving a respective seal member 144, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, respective adjacent pairs of grooves 142 share seal member 142. Accordingly, when the fastener 116 is securing the cover element 102 and the base element 118 together with any number of expansion element 120 therebetween, each mating edge is engaging with a corresponding mating edge to form a seal between each seal member 144 and a corresponding pair of grooves 142. More specifically, under force by the fastener 116, each seal member 144 is compressed between adjacent grooves 142 to form a compression seal.

[0030] Yet another preferred embodiment of the mating edges of the elements is shown in FIG. 9, as well as FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. According to this embodiment, the mating edge 108 of the cover element 102 includes a groove 142 for receiving a seal member 144, and the mating edge 122 of the base element 118 includes a contact surface 146. In addition, the top mating edge 124 of each expansion element 120 includes a contact surface 146, and the bottom mating edge 126 of each expansion element 120 includes a groove 142 for receiving a seal member 144. Accordingly, when the fastener 116 is securing the cover element 102 and the base element 118 together with any number of expansion element 120 therebetween, each mating edge is engaging with a corresponding mating edge to form a seal between each seal member 144 and a corresponding contact surface 146.

[0031] With additional reference to FIG. 1, exemplary fastener 116 may include one or more screws or bolts 148 each with threading 150 on one end and a head 152 on the other end. In the preferred embodiment shown, two bolts 148 are provided. With additional reference to FIG. 4, each expansion elements 120 may include a corresponding number of through holes 154. And with additional reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, either one of the cover element 102 or the base element 118 may include a socket 156 for engaging with the threading 150 of each bolt 148, while the other element 102 or 118 may include a seat 158 with a through hole 160 for receiving the head 152 of each bolt 148. In the embodiment shown, the cover element 102 includes the sockets 156, and the base element 118 includes the seats 158. As shown in FIGS. 1-4, according to a preferred embodiment, the through holes 154, the socket 156, and the seat 158 are formed in lateral ends 162 of each element 102, 118, 120.

[0032] Accordingly, when assembled as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each bolt 148 passes through one of the through holes 160 of the base element 118 and one of the through holes 154 of each expansion element 120, with the threading 150 thereof engaging with one of the sockets 156 of the cover element 102 and the head 152 thereof being received in one of the seats 158 of the base element 118. When tightened, the bolts 148 form compression seals at the mating edges between the elements as discussed above.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 1, 5, and 6, depending upon the number of expansion elements 120 connected between the cover element 102 and the base element 118, a number of bolts 148 with corresponding lengths L may be provided. For example, the bolts 148 may have a length L₁ if one expansion element 120 is provided as shown in FIG. 1; the bolts 148 may have a length L₂ if two expansion elements 120 are provided as shown in FIG. 5; and the bolts 148 may have a length L₃ if three expansion elements 120 are provided as shown in FIG. 6.

[0034] Those skilled in the art will understand that the preceding exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide the foundation for numerous alternatives and modifications thereto. For example, each of the elements 102, 118, and 120 may be made from any type of suitable material, such as a metal or metal alloy, a plastic composition, glass, and so on. In addition, the fastener 116 may include any suitable fastener such as a bolt with a wing nut. These other modifications are also within the scope of the present invention such that the present invention is not limited to that precisely as shown and described in the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A flask comprising: a cover element including an opening through which liquid is passable and a mating edge; a container including a reservoir for holding liquid and a mating edge for engaging with the mating edge of the cover element to form a seal; and a fastener configured to secure the cover element and the container together with the mating edges engaged.
 2. A flask as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container includes: a base element having a mating edge; and a expansion element having a top mating edge for engaging with the mating edge of the cover element and a bottom mating edge for engaging with the mating edge of the base element.
 3. A flask as claimed in claim 2 wherein the contain includes a plurality of expansion elements each having a top mating edge and a bottom mating edge; the top mating edge of each of the expansion elements being configured to engage with the mating edge of the cover element and the bottom mating edge of at least one of the expansion elements; and the bottom mating edge of each of the expansion elements being configured to engage with the mating edge of the base element and the top mating edge of at least one of the expansion elements.
 4. A flask as claimed in claim 3 wherein the expansion elements are substantially identical with each other.
 5. A flask as claimed in claim 3 wherein the fastener is configured to secure at least one of the expansion elements between the base element and the cover element.
 6. A flask as claimed in claim 3 wherein the fastener is configured to secure a plurality of the expansion elements between the base element and the cover element.
 7. A flask as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a plurality of fasteners; each of the fasteners being configured to secure a respective number of the expansion elements between the base element and the cover element.
 8. A flask as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fastener includes a bolt.
 9. A flask as claimed in claim 8 wherein one of the elements includes a socket for engaging with the bolt.
 10. A flask as claimed in claim 9 wherein the other one of the elements includes a seat for receiving the bolt.
 11. A flask as claimed in claim 10 wherein the expansion element includes a through hole form receiving the bolt.
 12. A flask as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a plurality of the fasteners.
 13. A flask comprising: a cover element including a mating edge; a base element including a mating edge; and a expansion element including a pair of mating edges each of which is configured to be engageable with the mating edge of at least one of the cover element and the base element to form a seal therewith.
 14. A flask as claimed in claim 13 further comprising a plurality of expansion elements each including a pair of mating edges.
 15. A flask as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of the expansion elements includes a top mating edge and a bottom mating edge; the top mating edge of each of the expansion elements being configured to engage with the mating edge of the cover element and the bottom mating edge of at least one of the expansion elements; and the bottom mating edge of each of the expansion elements being configured to engage with the mating edge of the base element and the top mating edge of at least one of the expansion elements.
 16. A flask as claimed in claim 13 further comprising at least one fastener configured for securing the cover element to the base element such that a seal is formed between at least one pair of engaged mating edges.
 17. A flask as claimed in claim 16 further comprising at least one fastener configured for securing the cover element to the base element with the expansion element therebetween such that a seal is formed between the mating edge of the cover element and one of the mating edges of the expansion element and a seal is formed between the mating edge of the base element and the other mating edge of the expansion element.
 18. A method for adjusting a capacity of a flask, the method comprising: providing a flask including: a cover element including a mating edge; a base element including a mating edge; a expansion element including a pair of mating edges each of which is configured to be engageable with the mating edge of at least one of the cover element and the base element to form a seal therewith; and a fastener configured for securing the cover element to the base element with the expansion element therebetween such that a seal is formed between the mating edge of the cover element and one of the mating edges of the expansion element and a seal is formed between the mating edge of the base element and the other mating edge of the expansion element; positioning the expansion element between the cover element and the base element; and fastening the fastener.
 19. A method as claimed in claim 18 further comprising: unfastening the fastenering; removing the expansion element; and fastening the fastener.
 20. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the flask includes a plurality of the expansion elements, further comprising: unfastening the fastenering; positioning a second one of the expansion elements between the cover element and the base element; and fastening the fastener. 